Heating system



Sept. 10, 1935. A. l.. BROWNE HEAT ING SYSTEM `Filed Jan. 26, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 INVENTOR.V

A TTORNEYS.

A. L. BROWNE HEATING SYSTEM sept. 10,1935.

26, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.

l ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 1G, 1935 SATS 2 Claims.

This invention relates to heating systems and has for various of its objects to provide heating systems which are comparatively simple, inexpensive, econcmical, efcient, reliable, and flexi- 'ele in that they may be readily adapted to the conditions of different installations and to different uses when installed. Other objects and advantages will appear as the invention is hereinai'ter disclosed.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate what I now consider some ci the preferred physical embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a venting appliance used in the vari-ous systems shown in subsequent views.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional elevation of a part of the appliance shown in Fig. 1 with added features.

3 a detail sectional elevation of a part of the appliance shown in Figi with a modiiication the air-venting control.

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional elevation of a part ci the appliance shown in Fig. 1, with an addition-al modification in the air-venting control.

Fig. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective View of one of my novel systems.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional elevation of a differential seal particularly adaptable to the system shown in liig. 5.

The venting appliances shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, are disclosed and claimed in my copendng application Serial No. 526,892, led April i, 193i, in the United States Patent Oifice and entitled Venting appliances for heating systems (now Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,847,953, Patented February 23, 1932), and in which I stated that the venting appliances there shown and described may be employed in the heating system shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of my copendng application Serial No. 294,078 (led in the United States Patent Office on July 20, 1928) and described therein.

Sine I now prefer to employ, in my systems hereinafter described, a venting appliance such as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, I shall now proceed to describe that venting appliance and'some of the improvements or refinements therein which may be employed as desired. Ii desired, reference may be had to my said Patent No. 1,847,053 for a more complete description of the construction, advantages and operation of the venting appliances.

The venting appliance shown in Fig. 1 cornprises a valve casing which is sealed except at three passages. One of these passages, IU, admits air, steam, and water of condensation to the interior of the casing. Another of the passages, H, discharges Water of condensation from the casing. The other passage, i2, discharges air from the interior of the casing to the atmosphere. The valve casing shown comprises the body portion, i3, which is externally screw-threaded to receive the nut, ill, which holds the valve Spud l5, tightly seated in the inlet end of the passage, lil, internally screw-threaded at the outlet end of the passage H to receive a discharge or return pipe or conduit, and internally screw-threaded to receive the valve bonnet, i9, which is, in turn, internally screw-threaded to receive the valve member, i7, and the sub-bonnet, i8, the latter being provided with a screw-threaded vent opening, i9.

Means are provided Within the Valve casing, called into action by the entrance of steam into the casing, for closing the passage, i2. The means shown comprise the following structure: the valve head, 2i), adapted to seat in the valve seat provided in the valve member, il, is 'secured to and carried by a sealed, hollow metallic container, 2l, having a comparatively flexible bottom or diaphragm, 22, and containing a volatile fluid'. The -bottom or diaphragm, 22, rests upon or abuts against a stationary support, 23. These parts are so designed and constructed as to operate as follows: in the absence of steam within the valve casing, the pressure of the Volatile iluid within the container, 2l, is insufficient to force the diaphragm, 22, downwardly to such an extent as to move the valve head, 20, against its seat in the valve member, il. However, when steam enters the Valve casing, it contacts through orifices, 33 and St, with the thermostat, 2i, 22, imparting heat thereto, causing the volatile fluid to expand and thus causing the diaphragm, 22, to bulge downwardly to such an extent as to close the valve head, 2G, on its seat. The casing, 23, which houses the thermostat,v 2|, 22, is threaded at its upper end and adapted to thread into the upper portion of bonnet, i 6, as shown. The casing, 23, is provided with orices, 33, at its upper portion, and also with orices 34, thro-ugh the floor or bottom. These orifices, 33 and 3d, permit the thermostat, 22, to be in restricted communication with the interior of the valve casing I3, i6. The orifices 33 may be eliminated entirely and one or more orifices 3d only may be used. The casing, 23, also controls or limits lateral movement of the member, 2|, accurately and to a minimum extent.

Means are provided also for preventing the escape of water of condensation from the valve casing through the passage, I2. The container, 2|, above described, acts not only as a thermostat but serves also as a oat. If and when water collects and its level rises within the valve casing, this float, 2i, is raised by the rising water and forces the valve head, 20, firmly against its seat before the water level reaches the passage, I2.

There are also provided means for preventing the entrance of air into the valve casing through the passage, I2. One form of such means is shown in Fig. 1, and is constructed as follows: the upper end of valve member, Il, is provided with an annular rib or seat, 2li, upon which a valve disc, 25, rests. This valve disc permits the escape of air from the interior of the casing, I3, I5, to atmosphere through the passages, I2 and I9, but when the pressure within the casing, I3, I 6, is below atmospheric pressure, the valve disc, 25, prevents entrance of air into the casing, I3, through the passage, I 2.

The valve disc, 25, is made of the desired thickness and weight for the purpose of providing any desired air venting resistance.

By using discs, 25, each of the properly designed weight for its radiator, the steam circulation within the respective radiators can be balanced so that the complete heating of each radiator/can be effected at approximately the same time, regardless of the diierence in size of the radiators or their respective nearness to or distance from the boiler.

Within the valve casing, I3, are provided also pressure responsive means for preventing the entrance of water, air, or steam through the passage, IS, back into the radiator. These means include a specially-constructed check valve, consisting of a body or seat member, 26, to which there is pivotally connected a valve head or clapper, 2?, at 28. The Vneck of the check valve body, 25, protrudes through an annular orifice in the valve casing, I3. The neck of the check valve body, 26, is threaded to receive a lock nut, 36, in order securely and rigidly to fasten the entire check valve member in place. A gasket, 29, may be provided in case the contacting surfaces between the valve body, I3, and the shoulder of the extension neck of the check valve casing, 26, are not machined to an accurate, tight fit,

The check valve body is provided with a duct or port, 3|, the upper end of which is parallel to and adjacent the spud port or passage, I0. The lower end of the duct 3Q terminates at the annular rib or check valve seat, 32. It will be observed that the upper end of check valve port, 343, and the lower end of check Valve port, 39, are at two different levels, the outlet end of the duct 30 being below the inlet thereto.

The device illustrated in Fig. 1 possesses also other desirable features not yet described. Thus, a flat strip 35 of spring brass, or other suitable material, is sprung and seated at its opposite ends in undercut slots in the member I'I to prevent dislodgement of the disc or clap 25 but yet to permit its unseating to permit controlled escape of air from the port I2 to the atmosphere. Furthermore, the memberIl' is shown provided with lateral holes or apertures 3b to discharge any drops of condensate laterally, or radially, and then Vdownwardly to the metallic evaporating floor 3l. When steam first enters the casing I3, I9, particularly if the radiator to which it is connected is turned on suddenly while pressure is carried, there may be a few drops of condensation formed on the general interior surfaces of the entire venting appliance. Should one or two drops of this condensate formed on the valve members Il, 2i), be discharged through the valve orice I 2, effective evaporation of this small quantity of condensate is achieved without any discharge thereof through the nal venting port 5 My venting appliance may also be provided with means for muiiiing the expulsion of air which commonly and ordinarily produces a hissing sound in many forms of air-venting appliances. One form of such muiiling means is shown in Fig. 2 in which the sub-bonnet I3 is provided with two annular screens, 38 and d0, of perforated sheet brass or other reticulated metal, between which is confined a quantity of pebbles 39, l5 or other durable, steam-resistant, and heat-resistant particles. These provisions permit the escape of air but muflle the sound ordinarily incident to such escape.

According to the construction shown in Fig. 3, the casing portion ISA corresponds to the casing portion I6 in Fig. 1 except that the screw threads for the sub-bonnet ISA are provided on the outside instead of the inside. The member I'IA corresponds to the member I'I of Fig. 1 but is 25 somewhat modied in construction as will now be'noted. The member IlA, having the port I2A corresponding to the port I2 in Fig. l, is internally screw-threaded in order adjustably to receive a screw 4I which is provided with a T- 30 shaped passage 3 communicating with the port I2A. The upper end of the screw 4I is conical to serve as a valve member and is provided with a slot for purposes of adjustment. The subbcnnet I8A, provided with the tapped opening 35 ISA corresponding to the hole I9 in Fig. I, serves to grip between it and the upper end of the bonnet IA, a flexible metallic diaphragm I having a valve member ifi adapted to be closed by the member el. By inserting a screw driver through the opening IBA into the slot in the head of the screw I'IA, and turning it in one direction or the other, the position of the valve member IIA with resp-ect to the valve member iii may be adjusted and set as desired. By virtue of this adjustment the time of opening and closing and the rate of air discharge through the valve IIA-Qd, with respect to the steam pressure may be regulated, adjusted, and set, as desired. Thus the heating of each radiator with respect to another, or others, can be readily controlled and at will.

In Fig. 4 the sub-bonnet ISB, having the opening IEB, corresponds to the sub-bonnet I8 of Fig. 1 or IBA of Fig. 3; the member 44A correi sponds to the housing for the Valve 25 as in Fig. l and serves also as a valve member corresponding to the valve member 44 of Fig. 3. In the arrangement shown in Fig. Il, the valve ii- MA is normally open and closes only when the pres- G0 sure within the casing I 6A is sub-atmospheric. Being normally open, air can vent freely through these valve members III- 44A `and lift the disc 25 and vent through the port I9B. When the pressure within the casing IGA is sub-atmos- GD pheric, i. e. a partial vacuum, the disc 25 closes as previously described in connection with Fig. 1. However, atmospheric pressure exerted through the vent port ISB upon diaphragm |25 causes the whole member MA to drop slightly and seat securely on the xed valve head lll, giving under vacuum conditions of operation, the tight venting valve feature asr described in connection with Fig. 3.

In heating system hereinafter described, one

or another form of the venting appliances or traps above described (Figs. 1 to 4) is employed, preferably one for each radiator, such venting appliance or trap being in each instance indicated by the reference numeral I6. The heating system will be found to comprise: a boiler, radiators, a steam supply system for conveying steam from the boiler to the radiators, a sealed return system for conveying condensate from the radiators to the boiler, and pressure of elastic fluid in the sealed return system being slightly less but substantially the same as that in the steam supply system; and a plurality of traps (i6) each individual to a radiator (preferably there are as many traps it as there are radiators but in some cases there may be more radiators than there are traps i6) for Venting air from its corresponding radiator and for returning condensate to a sealed return system and thence to the boiler. Each of the traps I6 receives steam, air, and/or condensate from a radiator through its inlet port It, discharges air to atmosphere through the discharge port l2, discharges condensate through the outlet port Il to the sealed return system, prevents steam from escaping to atmosphere, etc.

I shall now proceed to describe in greater detail the form of my system shown in Fig. 5.

The boiler 'lil has connected thereto a steam supply system, comprising the steam main 1|, through which the boiler supplies steam, and a sealed return system comprising a wet pressure return line i2 (below the level of the steam main il) through which condensate is returned to the boiler. A riser 'it connected through a steam branch connection 13 to the main 'H supplies steam from the main il, through steam branch connections 15, to radiators 1l, '51, on an upper level or floor. Each radiator TI is shown provided with a radiator inlet valve 16, of usual construction, to control the supply of steam to the radiator through the steam branch connection 15. The radiators Ti, last referred to, are each provided with a venting appliance or trap l5 which discharges its condensate through a return branch connection 13 into a return riser 19, thence through a return riser branch connection 8G (in which a differential loop seal 8| is interposed) into the steam riser branch connection 13. A suitable form of differential loop seal 8| is shown in Fig. 6 to be described in greater detail. A steam branch connection 82 supplies steam from the main 'il to a radiator Tl on the first oor; the last mentioned radiator, as in the case of the upper floor radiators il, Tl, being provided with a radiator inlet valve 76. The first oor radiator Tl discharges its condensate into its trap or venting appliance I6, thence through a return branch connection 83 (in which a differential loop seal 8|, similar to the other such device shown in Fig. 6, is interposed), thence into the steam supply branch connection 82.

The differential loop seals 8l are, as stated, alike in construction and one of them is shown in detail in Fig. 6. This device comprises a casing 8l which is divided into two compartments by .a partition 6i so that the bottom of the partition forms a somewhat slight water seal. The partition 6l is shown provided with a metering orice 62.

The system shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is constructed and designed to operate substantially as follows:

When steam is generated in the boiler 10 it flows through the steam main 1l, thence through the riser branch connection 13 to the steam riser 'M and thence through the steam branch connections 15 and through the radiator inlet valves 'it into the radiators Ti. Air is expelled from each radiator 'H directly to atmosphere through its 5 trap I6. Condensate is freely discharged through each trap I6 into the return branch connections 18, return risers 19, thence by gravity through the radiator branch connection to the differential seal 8! and thence from the dierential 10 seal back into the steam riser branch i3. At or about the same time, steam circulation is established in the same manner in the rst iioor radiator through the branch 82, inlet valve 16, the radiator Tl, venting air at the corresponding trap 15 i6, and returning condensate through the trap i5 into the return branch 83, the condensate flowing through the differential seal 8i back into the steam supply branch 82. The condensate from the radiators flows by gravity from the 20 steam riser branches 'i3 and 82 back into the steam main 'H in the same manner as in a standard one-pipe system of heating. The steam main 'il pitches or slopes in direction as indicated by the arrows and drops into the wet pres- 25 Sure return 12. (If desired, this return main 'l2 could be situated just below the steam main 'H and run as a dry pressure return main, dropping wet at or close to the boiler l. An advantage of this system is the use of the steam sup- 30 ply main 'il also as a part of the return system'; this being made possible, in this instance, by the differential loop seals 8l which function as will be described.

Steam, in passing from the steam main il to 35 the steam risers 'M and the rst floor steam branch 82, is prevented by this device 8! from circulating through the return branches Sil and S3 and the return riser i9 to the trap i6, without a predetermined pressure drop. 40

Steam from the steam main il, is prevented from flowing freely through the seal 8i by the existence at its lower portion of a water seal. At the upper portion of the device 8l, steam flows through the metering orifice 62 which re- 45 stricts materially its flow to and through the return branches and risers i9, 8i?, 83, to the radiator trap i6. If, for instance, the differential produced by the metering orice 62 is suiiicient to cause a dilference in pressure of two ounces be- 50 tween the steam main 'H and the return risers and connections 79, 80, 83, then there will be a corresponding head of water on one side of the partition 6I (as shown in Fig. 6) for this particular pressure differential. It would amount, in the 55 case assumed, to a hydrostatic head of water of about three and one-half inches. If this differential is more than the differential of the check valve incorporated in the trap I6, then when any particular radiator 'il is turned on while 60 steam pressure in the entire heating plant is being carried, its air content will be rapidly eliminated through its trap I6 directly to atmosphere due to the accelerating effect of the differential seal 8| which produces a pressure differential be- 65 tween the two sides of the radiator greater than the pressure differential created by the slight resistance of the delicately balanced check valve incorporated in the trap I6. If the return connections 19, 80, 83 connected back directly into 70 the steam branch connections 13, 82, without this device 8l or an equivalent device, then the pressure within the casing of the trap i6 would be identical with the pressure in the steam branches 13, 83, riser 14 and branches 15. Venting of air 75 from the radiators' (particularly if the'valves T6 were suddenly turned on while steam pressure was being carried) under this condition 4would be much slower inasmuch as the steam supplied to the casing of the thermostatic trap I6 (and shut-v ting its air vent valve) would be identical in pressure with the steam attempting to enter the radiator. The only force then in favor Vof steam entering the radiator would be the static head of air offsetting the very delicate resistance of the check valve within the trap I6.

Referring again to the differential loop seal 8| (Fig. 6), it will be further noted that if the differential created by the orifice 62 is greater than necessary, steam can and rwill break through the water seal whenever its pressure is greater than the hydrostatic head of the seal. Also, condensate, flowing by gravity through the return connection (8B or 83) and into the loop seal, can readily pass through the lower portion of the seal and back into the steam main 1l whenever the pressure differential between the steam main H and the return connections 30, 83 is less'than the hydrostatic head of water caused by the seal.

In the system illustrated in the drawings, I have shown two radiators upstairs and one radiator on the first floor. This was done for convenience and simplicity in disclosure. It will, of course, be

understood that more radiators may be employed on the upper oors or levels, with similar connections, and that more radiators may be employed onl the first iloor or lower level, with similar connections.

It will be noted that my invention is a gravity return system of heating in which all three systems of basement mains, i. e. steam mains, dry return mains, and (wet or dry) pressure drip return mains, may be used. Boiler return traps, pressure equalizing loop seals, pumps, air venting traps or devices, or other similar apparatus, may be dispensed with as unnecessary. The dry return may be dispensed with and thereturn risers may connect into the (Wet or dry) pressure return, or they may connect back into the steam mains, either sealed wet or dry. These various forms of piping are possible as there is normally no air cw in. the return piping system according to my invention, and there is no substantial pressure differential between the supply system and the return system. The condensate ows freely back to the boiler by gravity and none accumulates in the system `above the water line of the boiler except to the extent of the small hydrostatic head corresponding to the slight differential'pressure existing between the supply an return.v s

In accordance with the provisions of the paten statutes, I have herein described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiments thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus disclosed is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried 10 out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combinations and relations described, some of these may be altered and others omitted and some of the features of each modification may be embodied in the others without interfering with the more general results outlined, and the invention extends to such use within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: 2b 1. A heating system comprising in combination, a boiler, a plurality of radiators, a steam supply system for conveying steam from the boiler to the radiators, a sealed return system for conveying condensate from the radiators by gravity to the boiler, the pressure of elastic iluid in thersealed return system being substantially the same as that in the supply system, a plurality of check valves each located in a corresponding return branch connection of each of said radiators for permitting the discharge of iluid from its radiator, and automatic air-venting means in each of the last mentioned return branch connections on the discharge side of the check valve in that branch connection.

2. A heating system comprising in combination, a boiler, a plurality of radiators, a steam supply systemfor conveying steam from the boiler to the radiators, a sealed return system for conveying condensate from the radiators by gravity to the boiler, the pressure of elastic fluid in the sealed return system being substantially the same as that' in the supply system, a plurality of check valves each located in a corresponding return branch connection of each of said radiators for permitting the discharge of fluid from its radiator, and a thermostatic air vent in each of the last mentioned return branch connections on the discharge side of the check valve in that branch connection, each of said thermostatic air vents being always open in the absence of steam or liquid around it.

ALFRED L. BROWNE. 

